Question

Eassy on roles of women freedom fighters in odisha

Answer 1

Rama Devi. Known as the mother of the masses, Rama Devi was the pioneer among the women freedom fighters of Odisha for more than half a century. ...Sarla Devi. For all the women activists, reformists, feminist Sarala Devi is a rolemodel and leader. ...Malati Choudhuri. ...Annapurna Maharana.

Answer 2

The women of Orissa played a significant role in all phases of national movement. They had made momentous contribution to the freedom struggle by demonstrating their indomitable courage and unflinching patriotism. But Gandhiji was the chief architect of women’s participation in the National Movement. Because he, for the first time, involved women in the freedom struggle which gave a new dimension to the movement.

During pre-Gandhian era, barring a few ladies of royal, aristocratic and political families, Oriya women in general were not taking part in politics. But Gandhiji’s leadership aroused self-reliance and self-confidence amongst them and they came out of their seclusion to join the movement despite opposition from the family. This mass participation of women in the freedom struggle provided renewed impetus and vigor to the movement.
The Gaya session of Indian National Congress was held in 1922. Prominent Oriya women luminaries like Rama Devi (wife of Gopabandhu Choudhury who resigned from the post of deputy magistrate to dedicate himself to the nationalist movement), Hiramani Devi (mother of Niranjan Pattanaik, the prominent Congress leader of Ganjam district) attended the same.

Likewise, Calcutta session of National Congress in December 1928 was represented by Rama Devi, Sarala Devi (wife of Bhagirathi Mohapatra, the first Secretary of Utkal Pradesh Congress Committee), Sarojini Choudhury (daughter of Fakir Mohan Senapati and wife of Munsif Gagan Bihari Choudhury), Janhavi Devi and Kokila Devi (daughter of Choudhury Bhagabat Prasad Mohapatra, M.L.C., Bhadrak and sister of Kantakavi Lakshmikanta Mohapatra) and Rasamani Devi. On the other hand, Karachi Congress held in March 1931, was attended by fourteen women delegates from Orissa.